Orangeville Seed Library to be launched

A Seed Library will be launched in Orangeville on April 27, as a pilot project by the Orangeville Sustainability Action Team (OSAT) and the Orangeville Public Library.

A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free and is run for the public benefit. Many seed libraries are open in public libraries. The Orangeville Seed Library offers free access to seeds and seed saving education. The goal is to support local food security and steward the region’s biodiversity. Locally-raised seeds are more resilient and better adapted to our soil and microclimate. The seed library is a way for hobby and beginner gardeners to share seeds and other gardening resources, and to connect with other seed savers.

“The seed library is an opportunity to strengthen our community of gardeners and local eaters,” said Councillor Sylvia Bradley who chairs OSAT. “This sustainable initiative increases plant resilience and allows people to reconnect with their food systems. It’s all about a sharing community and giving residents the opportunity to garden in a cost-effective manner.”

The seed library is a pilot project in 2017 and is hosted at the Orangeville Public Library’s Mill Street branch. The project will launch at a seed saving workshop on April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Mill Street branch of the library. Gary Skinn, a member of OSAT, will demonstrate the basics of seed harvesting and participants are encouraged to bring any seeds that they may wish to donate.

Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years. Rejoin the ritual and start to save seeds and share the abundance in our community.